This Weekend: Día de los Muertos is Near!
Posted in Programs and Events on October 16 2015, by Matt Newman
Time’s running out for FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life, and there’s so much going on in the final weeks of October that you won’t want to let this one pass you by. Fall’s presence is undeniable as you walk through the Garden, tinging the trees with reds and yellows, and Halloween is fast approaching. More importantly, Día de los Muertos is just around the corner. It would be an understatement to say that we’re celebrating the holidays with style.
Alongside this weekend’s schedule of outdoor tours, music, food, and other exhibition programming, we’re preparing for the coming week of after-dark events and lively holiday fiestas that all begin with Frida for Families: A Spooky Nighttime Adventure. On Friday, October 23, grab tickets and bring your little ones (don’t forget their costumes!) for a night of trick-or-treating in the Garden, hands-on Halloween fun in the Adventure Garden, live costumed performers, giant puppets, and more. It’s a safe and exciting way to celebrate the holiday a little early.
For adults, join us during our Frida al Fresco LGBT night on Thursday, October 22, and don’t forget to register for our last Frida Look-Alike contest of the exhibition—accepted entrants get free admission to the evening event and a chance to win prizes from NYBG Shop!
We’ll jump straight into the weekend of October 24 & 25 with all the giant pumpkin fun you’ve come to expect from NYBG in fall, featuring the return of master carver Ray Villafane for this Giant Pumpkin Carving Weekend and Día de los Muertos celebration. Watch Villafane and his team craft an incredible Day of the Dead tableau out of some of North America’s heaviest pumpkins, and enjoy FRIDA-themed entertainment including stilt-dancers, skeletal La Catrina puppets, and more.
Fall at NYBG is the perfect time to skip out on the stresses of city life and escape into our 250-acre oasis. And we’ve got 2,000-pound pumpkins, which doesn’t hurt either. See you outside!
Saturday, October 17
Bird Walk — 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center.
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert to learn about bird-friendly habitats, migrating species, and birds that make a permanent home at the Garden.
Garden Highlights Tour — 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Sights and scents flourish across the 250 acres of the Botanical Garden. Join a Garden Guide for a walking tour featuring highlights of the gardens and plant collections.
Live Music and Dance — 1 p.m.
In Ross Hall
Mexico Beyond Mariachi is a collective of professional teaching artist, musicians, and dancers that creates a bridge that connects audiences to the living traditions of Mexico through a musical journey that begins with the conquest and leads to the present day. The New York Metro area performance group has been seen by more than one million people over the last 10 years.
Native Plant Garden Tour — 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Join a tour guide for an insider’s view of the newly designed Native Plant Garden. Enjoy a mosaic of nearly 100,000 native trees, wildflowers, ferns and grasses designed to flourish in every season.
Cámara, Acción! Mexican Film Series — 3 p.m.
In Ross Hall
Every Saturday at 3 p.m., experience Frida Kahlo on the big screen with the Academy Award-winning film Frida, directed by Julie Taymor and starring Salma Hayek. On Sundays, a revolving series of compelling documentaries, shorts, and features takes you inside the vibrant culture of Mexico today, presented in partnership with Cinema Tropical.
Sunday, October 18
Forest Tour — 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Experience the beauty of the Garden’s 50-acre Thain Family Forest on this one-hour walking tour with an expertly trained Guide. You’ll learn facts about the trees, history, geology, and ecology of this original, uncut woodland.
Live Music and Dance — 1 p.m.
In Ross Hall
Mexico Beyond Mariachi is a collective of professional teaching artist, musicians, and dancers that creates a bridge that connects audiences to the living traditions of Mexico through a musical journey that begins with the conquest and leads to the present day. The New York Metro area performance group has been seen by more than one million people over the last 10 years.
Aquatic House Tour — 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Explore aquatic habitats found within the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, an acre of plants under glass. Take an eco-tour through these distinct biomes, with one of the Garden’s tour guides.
Cámara, Acción! Mexican Film Series — 3 p.m.
In Ross Hall
Today’s Feature: The Bat Man of Mexico (Tom Mustill, UK,2014, 59 min.) (English)
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Mario Batali’s Kitchen Gardens — 1:30 p.m.–6 p.m.
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
Garden beds are filled with plants featured in the favorite recipes of the chefs from Mario Batali’s restaurants. Kids can explore the gardens to solve Mario’s Menu Mystery game.
Cooking with Frida — 2 & 4 p.m.
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
Hands-on activities in the Edible Academy’s Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden bring together children and their families to experience the colors, textures, smells, and tastes of Frida Kahlo’s Mexican kitchen. Cooking demonstrations feature recipes inspired by those Frida served to family and friends, using nutritious, garden-based ingredients. Visitors can explore and tend to the plant staples of Mexican cuisine growing throughout the Family Garden: beans, tomatoes, peppers, chiles, herbs, and more!
Frida’s Flora and Fauna — 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Visit the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden to experience the inspiration Frida Kahlo found in the natural world that can be seen and appreciated in her artwork. Throughout the Adventure Garden investigate plants and animals growing and living in New York City, using your senses as well as scientific tools to discover your own creative muse.
